05-09-2026

Pilgrimage of the Parish of St Anne’s Chapel to France.

On 5 September 2026 parishioners of St Anne’s Chapel in Brussels made a pilgrimage to France.

The pilgrims visited the Skete of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land at Mourmelon, where the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. The service was celebrated by Hieroschemamonk Ambrose and Priest Andrei Popa. After the Liturgy, the pilgrims shared a common meal, during which Father Ambrose spoke about the history and spiritual life of the skete.

The pilgrims then visited the nearby Russian military cemetery, where Russian soldiers who died while defending France during the First World War are buried. A memorial litiya for the repose of the fallen soldiers was celebrated at the cemetery.

The pilgrimage continued to Reims, where the group visited the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims and the Basilica of Saint-Remi, which houses the relics of Saint Remigius.

The journey concluded with a visit to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Laon in the city of Laon.

For the parishioners the pilgrimage was a time of common prayer, spiritual fellowship and prayerful remembrance of the Russian soldiers who gave their lives in defence of France.